Time to stop mega housing projects, says Goa minister

Panaji, Jul 8 (IANS): The time has come to stop mega housing projects in Goa, because the state may not be in a position to provide water to all its residents in the near future, Goa Forest and Environment Minister Alina Saldanha said Monday.

Saldanha was speaking at a green workshop in the state capital.

"We are shocked by the number of mega projects in this south Goa village, with 100 flats and more coming up. We love everybody, but there's a point when we have to say 'no'. Would we have water to give all these people?" Saldanha asked, as the state has been battling pollution of its water sources thanks to mining and haphazard development along the coastline.

Apart from some parts of two important cities, which include the capital, the state, which is becoming increasingly urban, does not have a sewerage system which can collect and treat the waste generated.

"This kind of development will have to stop soon. Goa's unique identity may be dissolved entirely," said Saldanha, who has been one of the key proponents of the special status for Goa campaign.

The special status would allow only local residents to buy land in the state.

Real estate prices in the beach tourism state of Goa have sky-rocketed, with coastal areas being promoted as settings for swanky luxury abodes and second homes for investment.

Several politicians and bureaucrats have been linked to both local and national real estate groups who have been accused of hogging huge tracts of land across the state.

Goa should have halted its mega housing projects 35 years ago. Goa has been slowly reeling to the impact of the 'non-goan' invaders -they not only bring along with them cultural disparities but are loaded to the hilt with criminal backgrounds and disrespect to Goa's green and peaceful nature which is the only treasure Goa can offer to humanity. The corrupt politicians and their conniving builders have seized the oportunity to make hay while the sun shines and have in the baragin left goan backyards with sewer waters running out of the septic tanks from such mega projects. There is still time for action against these sleazy builders - you can knock these constructions down if it is found that they do not meet the states requirements. The million dollar question is! Do we have the politicians with the backbone?

Dear Politicians, there is plenty of water in the nearby Arabian sea and distillation plants can be put up and this water can be used for irrigation and all other purposes, except drinking and cooking purposes. But brain and money is required to use the modern technology. If we are having such brain less leaders, then INDIA will definitely shine.

Timely decision if implemented. Mr. Parikh has thinking ministers who think of the welfare of their State.Karnataka too should seriously note this.Just imagine, you me and some others forced to re-locate ourselves far away from Bangalore, when the water sources dries up or unable to use ground\lake water due to toxins\pollution....We will have to start from the scratch in the new location, as we may not get a suitable price for our immovable property. Children schooling\college\our jobs will be affected too.Government must stop this un-planned housing complexes that are mushrooming every where and stop encroachment of the remaining lakes (they are now from 900 odd down to 200 odd and in them too many are polluted).

Timely decision if implemented. Mr. Parikh has thinking ministers who think of the welfare of their State.Karnataka too should seriously note this.Just imagine, you me and some others forced to re-locate ourselves far away from Bangalore, when the water sources dries up or unable to use ground\lake water due to toxins\pollution....We will have to start from the scratch in the new location, as we may not get a suitable price for our immovable property. Children schooling\college\our jobs will be affected too.Government must stop this un-planned housing complexes that are mushrooming every where and stop encroachment of the remaining lakes (they are now from 900 odd down to 200 odd and in them too many are polluted).

Disclaimer:
Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.